From the moment the live-action reimagining of Avatar: The Last Airbender was announced, fans looked forward to the Season 2 arrival of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters: Toph Beifong (Miyako), a blind master earthbender.

Now that the second season is upon us, the collective anticipation around the new Toph is finally satisfied when she makes a huge impact in Episode 2. Back when Miyako was cast, executive producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani told Tudum that “thousands upon thousands” of auditions were submitted for Toph, but they both immediately knew that Miyako was a perfect fit. 

“We make a point of reviewing submissions separately and after countless tapes, we both had the same reaction ... Miyako is our Toph!” they explained. “Miyako is a brilliant performer who knows how to precisely balance the sarcastic sense of humor, stubbornness, and vulnerability that is Toph Beifong. Her physicality and emotional dexterity really put her in a class of one.”

In a series about destiny and the courage it takes to fulfill it, Miyako (BEEF), almost seemed born to play the role. “When I was 10 years old, I did an interview where someone asked me if I would want to play Toph should there ever be a live action series because I looked like her,” the actor says. “It was one of those situations where I was like, ‘This is so far-fetched, but yeah, I’d love to play Toph.’ And then it happened.”

PHOTO BY KATIE YU

Who is Toph?

Toph joins Team Avatar as Aang’s earthbending teacher. Boylan and Raisani consider Toph one of their favorite characters from the animated series. “We love how her abrasively hilarious energy complements and clashes with the rest of the Gaang and can’t wait to see that dynamic come to life on set. She’s funny, she’s very smart about the world around her, and a very accomplished earthbender. Underneath all that, she’s got emotional layers we can’t wait to explore.”

And in Miyako’s own words: “Toph is a very headstrong young girl. She’s also very physically strong… She was raised in a very noble family, but when you actually get to know her, she turns out to be very tomboyish. She reminds me of a middle school boy in a way. She has little to no filter, which means that she’s very blunt and funny. She is just very headstrong and very opinionated — which is good.”

If you’ve already watched Season 2, read more about Toph’s arc here — including the surprises she unleashes in the finale.

Who is Miyako?

Miyako is an actor who has appeared in BEEF, Young Rock, and The Santa Clauses, as well as in the movie You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. While she has played characters who share Toph’s dry humor and sarcasm, this role feels particularly special because “Toph is a completely unique character,” she tells Tudum. “No one is like her.” 

For Miyako, portraying Toph is also an opportunity to honor her heritage. “I personally am of Chinese and Japanese American descent and I’m so excited to represent my Chinese heritage in Toph Beifong,” she says. “One of the most incredible aspects of this show is the diversity of the Asian cultures in the Avatar: The Last Airbender world. Even though the universe is fantasy, it feels like every culture is represented in some way and tied to the history and traditions of that culture or country. Just a few years ago, you might have seen one or two of these actors in a show or movie, but on this show we are all able to represent this world together and work together and collaborate. It’s really amazing and a gift as an actor.”

Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Introduce Miyako as Toph Beifong

Miyako also worked tirelessly to portray the many facets of Toph, including her independence, her relationships with Aang (Gordon Cormier) and the rest of the Team Avatar, her mastery of earthbending, and her navigation of the world as a blind person. “When I got [to set], we did six weeks of training with our stunt team,” recalls Miyako. “We learned a lot of martial arts. I personally had training with Joe Strechay, who was my incredible blindness consultant. He gave me a very good education about the blindness community and people with low vision. This helped me portray the character accurately onscreen, because I am not blind or low vision and will never [truly] know what it is like.”

Click here to read all about all the elements — there were many more than four! — that went into Miyako’s portrayal of Toph, from her wardrobe to her work with Strechay, and even the prosthetic feet she had to wear in her scenes.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is streaming now, only on Netflix.